Does whooping cough vaccine for parents protect newborns? 15 May 2012 0 comments Recent news reports say the free whooping cough vaccine for parents to protect newborns will be discontinued because it is not effective - news that has left parents dismayed and confused.
Records and better health outcomes -- make the link 9 May 2012 0 comments Former UK Chief Medical Officer Sir Donald Acheson (1926-2010) was a gracious humanitarian and his many contributions to medicine were made with modesty and effectiveness.
Time for a spring clean of GP training 2 May 2012 0 comments Over the Easter weekend I used a wheelbarrow that was almost 60 years old, recently gifted to me by my father-in-law. Norman is a quiet and methodical man, and I was not surprised the wheelbarrow was…
What price a proper bowel screening program? 18 Apr 2012 0 comments The latest report on the national bowel cancer screening program, from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, highlights again its persistently low participation rates -- only 38% of the 2.1…
Why doctors should be honest about errors 13 Apr 2012 0 comments It’s generally accepted that open disclosure is the right thing to do when it comes to medical errors. But there are still many barriers that deter people from doing so.
Add your voice to health research 11 Apr 2012 0 comments Many GPs I know are suspicious of research and researchers. And rightly so, I think. Researchers often tell GPs they are doing things badly: failing to identify disease, failing to follow up on…
Time to keep our promises to global health 3 Apr 2012 0 comments It is not widely appreciated that as a nation we have made multiple promises to work with other countries to improve global health. But few of these promises have been honoured. It is time to…
Reforms address after-hours inequity 28 Mar 2012 0 comments There is considerable disparity in after-hours primary healthcare across Australia. While many GPs provide high quality after-hours services, some communities are missing out, meaning people go to…
Just how local are these Medicare Locals? 7 Mar 2012 0 comments Meeting at 'the local' has a ring of conviviality and equity to it. But change the title to 'Medicare Local' and any sense of conviviality seeps away faster than water in the desert.
Focus on the job and the pathway will follow 28 Feb 2012 0 comments Some jobs can be filled only by a 'Jack-or-Jill-of-all-trades'. Only true medical generalists need apply. This is the job that requires the doctor to provide initial and continuing care in the…